When you arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, you’ll be besieged by taxi touts offering you overpriced rides. Make sure you get to the Public Taxi stands to get a properly priced taxi into Bangkok
I spend a lot of time travelling in and out of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, and one thing that never fails to irritate me is the sheer amount of taxi touts trying to rip unsuspecting tourists off as soon as they emerge into the Arrivals area.
These guys – and girls – are everywhere, and they will ask you every couple of seconds if you want a taxi. When you’re tired and unfamiliar with the airport, it can be all too easy to give in. These jokers will try and charge you 700 Baht or more for a taxi ride – twice the price of what you can expect to pay.
Bangkok Airport Taxi Stand at Entrance Number 3
Bangkok Airport Taxi Stand
The only way to be sure of getting an authorised public taxi is to go to the Public Taxi stands that are located at Entrances 3 and 10 on the Arrivals floor. Most people seem to arrive nearer to Entrance 3 – simply walk through the crowds of people waiting and veer to your right and follow the corridor along. You will see the big revolving doors marking each Entrance – when you get to Entrance 3, you should see a big blue sign on the side of the revolving door saying “Public Taxi”.
UPDATE January 2010 – The Public Taxi has now moved again – it’s now downstairs from the Arrivals Floor. Walk out into the Arrivals Hall and turn right – you will walk down a long corridor where people are waiting to meet friends and family. Walk through them and look for the escalator going down to your right. They are wide, sloping escalators on which you can fit your luggage trolley. This will bring you directly to the Exit Door where the Public Taxi is located. You will see the same Public Taxi signs and booths mentioned below.
When you get outside, you will also see the Public Taxi booth. If you go outside of the terminal early, you can look for the Entrance 3 sign on the concourse. At the booth, tell the staff where you want to go. They’ll give you a chit and you then get a taxi driver from the queue of them directly behind the booth. The driver will then take you off to his taxi – and carry your luggage if you give him a winning smile.
Public taxis charge the metered fare, plus a 50 Baht surcharge for airport pickup, plus any highway toll fees – typically 50 to 70 Baht depending on where you’re going. You should expect to pay around 350 to 400 Baht depending on where you’re going and the state of the traffic.
In 2010 the long awaited Airport Link train between Suvarnabhumi and the BTS Skytrain system should open, which will make it much easier and cheaper to get into the city. It can’t come quick enough – compared to how easy Singapore and Hong Kong Airports make it for guests to transfer into the city without stress or confusion, Bangkok Airport is an embarrassment.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
According to my sources the Airport Link is expected to open this year on Queens Birthday – August 12th.
Traffic around Makkasan area will be a total nightmare.
Great advice on getting a taxi at the airport.
The last time I came in I did the same. Only, after driving a short way the taxi driver tried to bully me out of an outrageous amount.
As a rule I don’t yell at taxi drivers (especially in Thailand) but I broke it just this once.